by Jim Gordon
HOPETOUN V SEA LAKE NANDALY TIGERS
In what looks like being a tantalisingly even matchup, third placed Hopetoun Devils take on Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers at Beulah this week in the cut throat elimination first semi final.
The Tigers only just scrapped into the four after an honourable loss against league leaders Ouyen United last week whereas the Devils looked decidedly shaky in getting the points against a gallant Woomelang Lascelles.
Hopetoun have held third place for most of the year, taking care of all sides below them, but this game is by no means a forgone conclusion and they will do well to get over the Tigers. If they can win, a preliminary final beckons, an improvement on last year‘s fourth place finish.
This match will showcases two of the three winners of the MFL medal in Col Durie and Kain Robbins. These two are in the elite of the league’s premier players and worth the price of admission to go and see them play.
It should be a cracking game with both sides evenly matched right across the ground.
Kain Robins is in formidable form and dominates the Hopetoun half forward line using a combination of pace, body work and strong marking to feed the ball forward or kick goals himself. Whoever Hopetoun put on Robins will have their work cut out as he has to be played very closely all day.
Nathan Wight could get the job as he did well in hold leading goalkicker Sonny Lindsey to just two goals last week and he teams well with John Guthrie in a back pocket. Together they are responsible for the relentless pressure the Tiger defence can apply to opposition forwards.
The last time these two sides met, Luke Martin picked up Robins and persisted all day to become one of Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers’ best players. Maybe he will get the job once again. On that day Martin was assisted by Taylor Hannig and this pair was often able to double team Robins in an effort to nullify his influence.
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers’ Col Durie picked up the three votes last week against Ouyen United, doing his best work in the centre or roaming between half forward or half back. Impossible to shut down completely, Hopetoun may try to negate Durie‘s influence through their own creative work in and around the midfield.
Simon Cook is in great form in the ruck and in another positive for the Devils, Ruben Vesikuru, Chris Heath and Zac Taggert are teaming well. Luke Milroy only needs to play the way he did early in the season and Hopetoun could almost match Durie’s output.
Zack Taggart was outstanding for the Devils against Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers at Culgoa earlier in the year, Ruben Vesikuru played his best game for the season and Zac Taggert also showed the importance that he is to the Devils.
In a big blow for the Devil’s it looks like they will be without their key gaol kicker Bryce Wellington who injured his hamstring two weeks ago. Clint Castleman will get the job at full forward. If Hopetoun are to win he is going to need to get a couple of his trade mark goals when the focus is off him and on Robins, .
The Tigers went with a tall forward line last week and it worked quite well. Daniel Carmichael kicked five goals, Mark Duscher two and Joshua Longeri three, although Longeri did his damage playing on a wing as an attacking forward.
The Hopetoun defence will have to play close and try to negate the Tiger forwards by punching the ball. Fortunately for the Devils their defence worked well together last week against the Cats and look to be in good form. Leigh Hutchinson’s leadership from defence is inspirational while Steve Hallam and Ben Reid are also solid in their work. Hallam in particular is in very good form.
A feature of their game last week was the tackling of the Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers. They never gave Ouyen United the freedom they have become used to and used their pace on the wide open spaces of the Sea Lake oval to run the ball into attack.
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers almost defeated the top team last week. This must give their hierarchy a lot of confidence after rolling Beulah early in the year. The Devils will have to be at their best to win. Hopetoun have been more consistent than the Tigers this year and may just get over the line.
Last Modified on 24/08/2011 21:22